Teesside firms pumped out 18pc of all the country's cancer-causing chemicals in 2000, new figures show today.

Teesside firms pumped out 18pc of all the country's cancer-causing chemicals in 2000, new figures show today.

The total of 1,500 tonnes from seven Teesside plants is down on previous years, according to Friends of the Earth's carcinogen release league tables.

They show that between 1998 and 2000 carcinogen releases nationally were cut by 40pc. On Teesside, emission levels dropped by nine per cent.

Ineos Chlor, BASF, Huntsman (North Tees and Wilton), Phillips Petroleum, Fine Organics and Dupont Sabanci Polyester are among the firms named in the league table.

The figures for Ineos Chlor relate to a period when it was owned by ICI's Chlor Chemicals.

Carole Zagrovich, Teesside community development officer for Friends of the Earth, said: "Nobody wants to frighten people but we all have a right to know what's in the air in an understandable way.

"I just hope people will be concerned by this, I hope industry and the Environment Agency will be concerned by these figures and act accordingly."

Dr Ian Holtby, of Tees Health Authority, said medical experts worked with councils and the Environment Agency to look at the impact of pollution on health.

He said: "People should be aware that pollution levels aren't the only factors connected to the development of cancers. Environmental studies in the past have showed little correlation between cancer and proximity to industry."

BASF released 201 tonnes of carcinogens in 2000, an increase of 21pc on the previous year. But a spokesman for the firm said new figures for 2001 showed that the factory's recorded releases were down to 158 tonnes.

He said: "As part of our ongoing £26m environmental programme, we aim to reduce our releases to virtually nothing and are working with the Environment Agency to do so."

Hunstman's Teesside sites at Wilton and North Tees combined released more than 300 tonnes of carcinogens in 2000 and although one site was down 41pc, the other was up 286pc.

A spokesman said a perceived 'increase' in reported emissions at Wilton was because recent detailed work on measurements of benzene and butadiene had given the company a much better understanding of emissions from the plants.

He said: "We are therefore now able to report much more accurate figures and, while these indicate higher amounts because of the improved measurement methods, actual emissions levels have not increased."

A spokesman for Ineos Chlor, which announced last year it was to axe its two plants at Wilton in June, declined to comment on the figures, which relate to the company when it was owned by ICI.

Fine Organics Ltd had the best reduction of releases out of the seven companies with a 51pc decrease from 308 in 1998 to 153 in 2000.

A company spokesman said: "We have an active programme to review the usage of these materials and as a result of that improvement programme we have our emissions by 51pc and expect further substantial reductions for 2001."

Dupont Sabanci Polyester's figures were down 9pc from 129 to 118.

Spokesman Chris Nicholson said the company's results continued to improve with a total reduction of 55pc since 1995, adding: "We've been working very hard on this and would expect to see further reductions as a result of our improvement strategy for Teesside."

Philips Petroleum were unavailable to comment on the 159 tonnes of carcinogens released by at the plant.

The Environment Agency's head of Process Industries Regulation, Martin Bigg, said: "Through working together we are achieving significant improvements.

"The Agency has a key role to play in the protection of human health via its regulating activities and we will have no hesitation in taking action to reduce or eliminate the release of chemicals that are considered by the government to pose a risk to human health."

Mike Douglas, environmental protection manager for Redcar and Cleveland Council, said: "The position isn't one we're happy with, but it's pleasing because at the moment our air quality standards do meet Government targets."